Cytisus plant named ‘SMSCGF’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cytisus  plant named ‘SMSCGF’, characterized by its compact, low mounding and arching plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; full and dense plants; freely flowering habit; large bright yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Cytisus scoparius.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMSCGF’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cytisus plant, botanically known as Cytisus scoparius, commonly referred to as Scotch Broom and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SMSCGF’.

The new Cytisus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program is to create new mounding Cytisus plants with attractive flower form and color.

The new Cytisus plant originated from an open-pollination in 2009 in Grand Haven, Mich. of an unnamed selection of Cytisus scoparius, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Cytisus scoparius as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Cytisus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a simple flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. in April, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cytisus plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since June, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Cytisus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cytisus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMSCGF’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMSCGF’ as a new and distinct Cytisus plant:

-   -   1. Compact, low mounding and arching plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; full and dense plants.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large bright yellow-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Cytisus can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Cytisus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cytisus are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Cytisus are low mounding and arching in         plant habit whereas plants of the female parent selection are         upright in plant habit.     -   3. Plants of the new Cytisus have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Cytisus can be compared to plants of Cytisus scoparius ‘Moonlight’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Cytisus differed from plants of ‘Moonlight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cytisus were more compact than plants of         ‘Moonlight’.     -   2. Plants of the new Cytisus were low mounding and arching in         plant habit whereas plants of ‘Moonlight’ were more upright and         somewhat arching in plant habit.     -   3. Plants of the new Cytisus had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Moonlight’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Cytisus were darker yellow in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Moonlight’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cytisus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cytisus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMSCGF’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMSCGF ’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Cytisus production. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cytisus scoparius ‘SMSCGF’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Cytisus             scoparius, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Cytisus             scoparius, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, somewhat             fibrous and fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub; compact,             low mounding and arching plant habit; freely branching habit             with numerous lateral branches developing per plant; full             and dense plant habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 6 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal to downwardly arching.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 137A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 147B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; leaves simple or compound with three             leaflets per leaf.         -   Simple leaf length.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Simple leaf width.—About 3 mm.         -   Compound leaf length.—About 2.2 cm.         -   Compound leaf width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 7 mm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet shape.—Lanceolate to oblanceolate.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet base.—Cuneate to attenuate.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet margin.—Entire.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet texture, upper and lower             surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Simple leaf and leaflet color.—Developing leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single axillary papilionaceous             flowers; flowers face outward to drooping; freely flowering             habit with about 300 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring in Michigan.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Flowers last about two to             three weeks; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.1 cm. Depth (height): About 3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 cm.             Shape: Pea-like. Color: Close to 9A.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Single whorl of five             petals; one petal larger than the other four petals. Petal             length, largest petal: About 2 cm. Petal length, smaller             four petals: About 2 cm. Petal width, largest petal: About             1.7 cm. Petal width, smaller four petals: About 1 cm. Petal             lobe shape, all petals: Oblong. Petal lobe apex, all petals:             Obtuse. Petal lobe margin, all petals: Entire. Petal             texture, all petals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; silky. Color, all petals: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 13A. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 13A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite. Sepal             length: About 3 mm. Sepal width: About 1.5 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate to oblong. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Fused.             Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 143C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: About 30° from lateral             branch axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Numerous, fused;             monodelphous. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 13A. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 3 cm. Stigma shape: Round.             Stigma color: Close to 12B. Style length: About 2.5 mm.             Style color: Close to 12B. Ovary color: Close to 191C. Seeds             and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Cytisus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cytisus have been observed     have good garden performance as exhibited by its tolerance to rain     and wind. Plants of the new Cytisus have been observed to tolerate     temperatures ranging from about −32° C. to about 36° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Cytisus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cytisus     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cytisus plant named ‘SMSCGF’ as illustrated and described. 